The most aswome thing you can not buy!

[Christmas]

I can't take an army seriously that uses motorized surfboards to reinforce a position.

[Rated EC-10]

I can't take an army seriously that uses motorized surfboards to reinforce a position.

Excellent... your hysterical laughter will allow them to overrun you that much faster.

It's all going according to plan...

[Paper]

I do think this would be a pretty good way to transport materials, but I just don't see it working for troops going into combat, it seems too awkward.

Controlling it is definitely one of the biggest problems. And even though it could allow troops to carry heavier loads while riding it, how are they supposed to balance? I'm sure some troops could do it no problem, but I could never do anything on a skateboard/snowboard, and I'm sure there's more than a few troops who have similar board-balancing skill levels to myself.

[ZERO]

It is not as if the thing could be standard issue but what I am saying is I am sure that there would be plenty of scenarios where such a device could change the outcome and thus would be a good investment. The thing about war is that it is unpredictable, the army that adapts and takes the latest technology into account has a huge advantage. Being able to develop or anticipate new types of warfare are essential to the success of any campaign even our best games and simulators are a joke when compared to the unimaginable ways that humans can come up with to destroy one another. Think solders on skateboards sounds funny lets have a look at the past:

Unites States invests millions to develop a weapon more powerful than thousands of a single bomb put together.

Allies develop a special blend of ice called piecrete that they planed to use to build giant floating battle islands across the world.

Troops could be given a large sheet in the form of a circle that is attached via rope to a backpack and then thrown out of plains to attach a position by surprise.

Instead of standing in a long line and then attacking one individual unit in 1v1 combat regular people can be trained to hold a spear and simply stand in place with a shield and attack as one unit (Development of the phalanx, first used against Sparta)

Equip bats with explosives and lure then to key structures though the use of high frequency sound waves. Developed by Marines with a special congressional funding in WWII.

Instead of building high walls construct shorter thicker walls with angled sides to repel cannons

Get on a horse and then using a long metal stick hit other people at high speeds without getting killed.

Spy on enemy harbor by placing a clay pot upside down in water and having it held underwater by 4 rocks. User then walks around underwater for short times and also collects additional air by use of snorkel when at lower depths. (Punic wars)

Computer invented to better calculate accuracy for artillery later used to decode enemy encrypted transmissions.

A ship that can go underwater and attach bombs to the hulls of other ships (Civil War)

Putting a human in a big rocket and landing him on the moon.

Building a ship out of metal or a materiel that does not float.

Putting a flame thrower on a wooden ship.

Creating floating platforms so that ground troops can battle at see.

Developing M&M candy so pacific divisions can have candy that melts in the mouth and not in the sand.

Placing a pice of cloth around a musket ball to improve accuracy.

Using an armor plated vehicle to storm trenches

Weaponizing the gas given off when one tries to make mustard.

Using lazes like in the movie starwars to blow stuff up like missals.

Others that I can not think off the top of my head.

[Rated EC-10]

Weaponizing the gas given off when one tries to make mustard.

Swing and a miss. But one strike out of the rest aint bad. (Mustard gas isn't named for any relation with the condiment or plant seeds.)


As for other stuff Paper... Balance? I do not see any reason this thing needs to behave like a skateboard, that is a whim of the current design. A miiltary usage one would not be based on a tilting platform for control. It would be based on a more solid footing. If it had a tilting platform at all, it would be one controlled by electronics to make it steadier, more controllable for the rider. The goal wouldn't be for performing stunts or neat tricks so the maneuverability would be less important.

As for controls, I definitely think having a vertical stick in front would solve most any issues, giving an additional point of balance and a way to hang on during acceleration. The wired grip would HAVE to go no matter what, it's completely ill suited for practical uses. The best ergonomics I can think of right now would be a wide-motion thumb hat/stick for throttle and turning, so your fingers could be used only for hanging on.

[Hodgie]

While he may have missed on the true developments of mustard gas, it is a fact that the development of chemo-therapy for cancer is a direct result of mustard gas... Its one of the times that something harmful and negative has resulted in a benefit to society.

[Paper]

The current design seems to be (from the videos) for negotiating terrain, like the military would be using it for. Were it a more solid platform that didn't require as much balancing, I don't think it would be able to get around terrain, at least not without getting much bulkier.

If you put a stick on the front, wouldn't it be just one more thing to break (picture a soldier going down the street, a rifle fires from a window, he dives, the board flips)?

Btw, wasn't the laser project essentially scrapped with the new budget (the 747 mounted laser I mean, I don't know which one you were talking about)?